Slicing machine



March 27, 1934. w, 1 CAMPBELL SLIGING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 27, 1934. w. J, CAMPBELL sLIcING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1929 s sheets-sheet 2 March 27, 1934. l w. J, CAMPBELL 1,952,837

SLICING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E: WM

Patented Mar. 27, 1.934I

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE SLICIN G MACHINE Application July 5, 1929, Serial No. 375,963

11 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in slicing machines of the type in which a rotary knife is associated with the Work supporting carriage which is conveyed past the cutting edge of the knife. One object is the provision of improved means for receiving the slices as they are severed. Another object is the provision of means for receiving drippings, fragments and the like, which drop from or are scraped from the knife. Another object is the provision of such receiving means which shall be completely concealed during the normal operation of the device. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a rear elevation;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View, with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a partial front elevation;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the parts in a different position;

Figure '7 is a perspective viewrof the receiving pan; and

Figure 8 is a perspective View of a removable tray associated therewith.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates any suitable base member with the ground engaging pads or supports A1. Mounted on the base member A is any suitable motor means generally indicated as B with the motor shaft B1, driving pulley B2 and belt B3.

C is a rotary knife associated with the pulley C1 on the knife shaft C2. The belt B3 passes about the pulley C1 and serves to rotate the knife. I illustrate the knife as forwardly recessed as at C3 and rearwardly recessed as at C4. The forward peripheral portion is shown as flat, as at C5.

D generally indicates a guard plate the arcuate edge D1 of which penetrates the recess C3 of the knife, the knife shaft being tilted somewhat from perpendicularity to the guard plate D, in order to permit the cutting arc to project forwardly into the plane o-f the guard plate. The guard plate may be somewhat bowed, as shown in Figure 2, to the slightly bowed contour of the cutting arc which is caused by this tilting of the knife axis.

E generally indicates a scraping member which (Cl. 14S-102) may be adjustably mounted on the lower edge of the guard plate, as by the securing member El. The adjustment may take the form of a balland socket connection with the ball member E2 engaged by the concave socket portion E3 of the 60 scraper. This disposition of partspermits of practically universal adjustment. A portion of the guard plate above the scraper, as shown in Figures 2 and 6 is inclined outwardly over the scraper as at E5, overhanging it and formngpa species of protective cave. The frame A of the slicing machine is formed with a forward ledge or projection having the Vertical forward side E6 and the curved top portion E?. This curved portion is apertured as at E3, in vertical alignment with the scraper, as shown in Figure 2 and in fact the lower edge of the scraper may depend somewhat below the level of the portion El, and into the aperture E8. One side of the aperture may be provided with a lateral extension or beading E9. The purpose of this will later appear.

G generally indicates any suitable form of gauge plate which may be moved toward and away from the cutting plane of the knife in any suitable manner, in order to control the thickness of the slice cut and does not of itself form any part of the present invention and will not be described in detail.

The tracks I-I, H1, are provided along which may be guided any suitable supporting carriage, whereby the material to be sliced is conveyed past the cutting edge of the knife. Mounted on the frame A, which is recessed as at I is a slice receiving member generally indicated as Il, which includes the bottom portion I2 and the generally vertical sides I3 preferably formed integrally therewith. The end portion I4 of the tray I1 approaches the cutting plane of the knife, but movement of the tray suiiiciently forwardly toward the knife to engage the knife is prevented by the bowed depending flange I5 the ends of which engage the base A as at 110. This is important, since otherwise the tray might be thrust into contact with the knife, with damage to the cutting edge of the knife. The flange I5 also serves as a handle whereby the tray may be withdrawn, the tray being slidably mounted upon the underlying portion I6 of the frame, as by the bosses or runners Irl formed in the bottom of the tray. The movement of the tray toward the knife being limited by the flange I5, when the tray reaches its limit, undesired retrograde movement is prevented by the engagement of the ends of the bosses I7 with a beading I9 formed material from the scraper to the pan.

. vention.

on the frame, as shown for example in Figure 6.

The parts are so proportioned that when the tray is in slice receiving position, as shown in Figure 2, the central portion of the bowed handle member I5 is spaced laterally away from the edge of the base or frame. The operator, in order to remove the tray lifts it up suiiiciently to clear the beading I9, and slidably withdraws it. A

Positioned beneath the aperture ES and adapted to receive the scrapings from the scraper E is the refuse pan generally indicated as K. In the form shown herein the pan is provided with a flat bottom Kl the forward inclined side K2 extendingr upwardly toward the bottom of the frame portion E7 and a rear inclined side K3, of lesser height, provided with a horizontal extension K4 apertured with the finger apertures K5. The extension K4 seats in a recess K6 of the frame portion I6, the recess being apertured as at K10 to permit the fingers to pass through the apertures K5, when it is desired to remove or withdraw the pan K. The frame is further cut away to receive the inclined sides K2, K3 and the end members K7 of the refuse pan K, the

" bottom K1 of which seats upon ns or flanges K9 projecting from the base A, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. If desired a removable inner tray K8, of any suitable material may be el ployed. For example I may make such members of paper or fiber, the members being thrown away or destroyed with the grease or refuse which drops upon them. This substantially eliminates the necessity of cleaning the pan or receivers K. It will be seen, from the figures,

` that the pan K is entirely concealed when the slice tray Il is in position and can only be removed or inserted when the tray Il is removed, or partially withdrawn. Referring for example to Figure 6, which illustrates the member K in the process of removal or insertion, it will be seen that the bead or guard E9 prevents the operator from thrusting the member K against the edge of the knife but, being laterally out of line with the scraper, does not prevent the free delivery of Furthermore the bead E9 necessitates that the pan K be tilted for removal or insertion, and consequently this tilting lowers the upper edge of the wall K2 to clear the depending scraperV E.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my in- I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing. A co-pending application 402,880, filed by applicant on October 28, 1929, illustrates some of the material claimed in certain of the claims filed herein.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

In slicing machines of the class herein described, in which a rapidly rotated knife is used, it is in the highest degree important to keep the material of the slicing machine free from grease, scraps and the like which would be discharged by the rapid rotation of the knife. 'Ihe high speed of the knife and the consequent heat generated by its friction on the work may create a considerable amount of grease or lard when greasy substances, such as bacon or ham or other meats are being cut. This grease is removed by the scraper E from the forward flat face C5 of the knife. This material is unsightly and unappetizing, and I therefore provide means for receiving it which, while permitting its ready removal from the machine, keep it invisible until removal. Whatever grease, scraps and the like are removed by the scraper E from the knife drop through the aperture E8 into the pan K. The pan K being entirely concealed, the customers do not see the material discharged. This material is of course removed from time to time from the machine, thus maintaining the machine in sanitary condition.

In order to prevent any damage to the edge of the knife I have provided guard means, for example the beading E9, to prevent the pan K from being thrust against the cutting edge of the knife or against the scraper. Thus the cutting edge of the knife is guarded from damage and the delicate adjustment of the scraper is undisturbed.

The tray I is easily removable from the machine either to dispose of slices thereon, or for cleaning purposes or for permitting the removal of the pan K.

As a further sanitary measure, as well as for convenience in removing the scraps, grease, and drippings, I provide the removable riifle or inner pan member K8, which may be of ber or paper and which may be thrown away or destroyed with the material deposited therein.

The fact that the pan is removable through the top of the base of the machine is particularly an advantage in cases where the machine is on or against a show case or against a wall. Since the removal of the pan is effected upwardly from within the periphery of the base, the positioning of the base against a wall or show case will not interfere with the removal of the pan. Also the pan is positioned much lower than the knife, and

may be removed from beneath the knife without danger of raking the contents cf the pan against the knife and thereby displacing them.

I claim: l. In a slicing machine which includes a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a guard plate for the forward face of said knife, a scraper mounted on said guard plate adapted to engage the forward face of said knife and an outward projection on said guard plate vertically overlying and extending outwardly beyond said A scraper.

2. In a slicing machine which includes a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a guard plate for the forward face of said knife, a scraper adapted to engage the forward face of said knife L and an outward projection on said guard plate vertically overlying and extending outwardly beyond said scraper.

3. In a slicing machine which includes a base and a rotary knife mounted on said base and means for rotating it, a scraper adapted to engage the forward face of the knife and a drip pan positioned beneath said knife and scraper, the base being cut away, above said drip pan, in line with the path of discharge of material removed by the scraper from the knife, a guard plate for the forward face of said knife and an outward projection on said guard plate, vertically overlying said scraper and said aperture in the base.

4. In a slicing machine which includes a rotary knife and means for rotating it, a guard plate for the forward face of said knife, a scraper adapted to engage the forward face of said knife and an outward projection on said guard plate lil-3 lio vertically overlying and extending outwardly beyond said scraper, a carriage and means for guiding it across the face of said guard plate, a work support on said carriage, one edge of said Work support closely approaching the cutting plane of the knife and the face of the guard plate, the edge of said work support being positioned above said outward projection of the guard plate.

5. In a slicing machine which includes a rotary knife and means for rotating it, and a base and frame member upon which such knife is mounted, a scraper adapted to engage a face of said knife, a drip pan mounted in said base beneath said scraper, the base being apertured in line therewith and a slice receiving member positioned to the rear of said knife, said slice receiving member being adapted to ovcrlie said drip pan when in operative position, and being slidably movable rearwardly from the knife, the drip pan, when the slice receiving member is so removed, being exposed and being upwardly removable from the base.

5. In a slicing machine which includes a rotary knife and means for rotating it, and a base upon which such knife is mounted, said base being apertured beneath and in vertical alignment with the cutting edge of the knife, a scraper, engaging the edge of said knife in vertical alignment with said aperture, a removable waste receiving member vertically aligned beneath said knife edge and scraper, and a slice receiving member, to the rear of said knife, overlying and concealing said waste receiving member.

7, In a slicing machine which includes a rotary knife and means for rotating it, and a base upon which such knife is mounted, said base being apertured beneath and in vertical alignment with the cutting edge of the knife, a scraper, engaging the edge of said knife in vertical alignment with said aperture, a removable waste receiving member vertically aligned beneath said knife edge and scraper, and a slice receiving member, to the rear of said knife, overlying and concealing said waste receiving member, said slice receiving member being slidably mounted upon the base.

8. In a slicing machine which includes a rotary knife and means for rotating it and a base upon which said knife is mounted, a scraper engaging said knife, a waste receiving member underlying said knife and scraper and a slice receiving member for said knife, overlying said waste receiving member.

9. In a slicing machine which includes a r0- tary knife and means for rotating it and a base upon which said knife is mounted, a scraper engaging said knife, a waste receiving member underlying said knife and scraper and a slice receiving member for said knife, overlying said waste receiving member, and means for limiting the movement of said waste receiving member toward the knife edge.

10. In a slicing machine which includes a rotary knife and means for rotating it and a base upon which said knife is mounted, a slice receiving member for the knife, mounted on and directly above said base for movement toward and away from said knife, and slidable on said base, and means for normally holding said slice receiving member in operative position, including an upward projection on the base and a member on the slice receiving member adapted to engage it, said engaging member on the slice receiving member extending downwardly below the normal plane of the bottom of said slice receiving member, and means for limiting the slidable forward movement of the slice receiving member toward the cutting plane of the rotary knife.

l1. In a slicing machine which includes a base and a rotary knife mounted on said base and means for rotating it, a scraper adapted to engage the forward face of the knife and a drip pan positioned within the base beneath the knife and the scraper, the base being apertured above the drip pan in line with the path of discharge of material removed by the scraper from the knife, the aperture in the base extending rearwardly of the plane of the knife a distance such as to freely receive said drip pan, and a removable member mounted on the base and overlying those portions of the aperture and drip pan lying rearwardly of the plane of the knife whereby to substantially conceal the drip pan from view, said removable member being positioned with respect to the knife to receive sliced material falling therefrom.

WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL. 

